October 31, 2015

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the worlds were formed at God's command, so that what was seen was made from that which was not visible."Hebrews 11:1-3

I have been talking about courage. What is it and how do you get it? Hebrews 11 answers the courage question more clearly than anywhere else.

Faith is the core of courage and it creation is the foundation of faith because once you believe He spoke the universe into existence you have to believe He can do anything! When you believe that you are ENcouraged! You find the courage you need!

The writer Hebrews declares that truth and then he illustrates with the stories of faith heroes who found courage in God!

In my last post I shared the story of Noah who showed incredible faith and courage because He believed that the God Who created the waters could summon up enough water to cover the earth and if He could do that, He could also help Noah build an ark! Noah took courage and God made Him a ship builder!

Moses was another one mentioned in this hall of heroes!

Image Moses standing with the Red Sea in front of him and the Egyptian army riding down behind him and millions of panicking Hebrews in between. What would he do? What would you do? That's right! He called out to God!

When God answered He told Moses to hold his rod above the sea and He would do the rest. That would require a lot of courage! The people where already turning against him and were at the point of rebellion. What if he lifted the rod and nothing happened? He would be lynched!

If he hesitated too long the Egyptian army would be upon them and the slaughter would begin!

No pressure!

I can only imagine what must have been going through his mind "if God can speak through a burning bush, and if He can defeat Pharaoh with His plagues, and if he can sustain millions of people in a desert then God can open this sea!" So he reasoned "If God did THAT He can do THIS!" He was ENcouraged and lifted his rod!

Go had led Moses there and he had faith God would lead him through!

Do you find yourself in a hard place!

Does there seem like no way out?

Take a deep breath. Use that breath to breathe out a prayer. Remember Who God is and what He has done for you before. Declare that if He did that for you He can also do this!

If he led you to this He will lead you through this!

Be ENcouraged!

October 30, 2015

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so what is seen was not made out of what was visible." Hebrews 11:1-3

Have you ever wondered how these great heroes of faith found the courage to attempt these great feats let alone accomplish them?

Verse one tells us the "secret". They believed that the best predictor of what God would do in the future is what God did in the past! That was the "substance" or the "platform" or the "foundation" what they dared to hope for!

When faced by an overwhelming challenge in life, these faith heroes drew courage from knowing what God had done for His people in the past and reckoning that He could do it again! And the big thing that God had done in the past was Creation.

So, when Noah was called by God to build this mammoth  boat to save himself and his family from the flood here's what I think He must have done. I believe he came to a faith point where he said, "This is such a big job called has called me to that He is going to have to help me!" And then His faith arose and He said to himself, "If God did that (Creation) then He can surely do this (The Flood). From that realization he found courage to begin building and then continue showing up to work for the next 100 years.

What do you need courage to do right now?

Where will you find it?

You factor faith forward!

You ask yourself, "What has God done before?"

Then ask yourself, "Is God still the same today as He was then?"

Then determine, "Is this something He wants me to do?"

Finally, like Noah, you can reason, "If God did that then, and if God is still the same as He was then, and if this is something He wants me to do - THEN IF HE DID THAT HE CAN DO THIS!

That's what those first three verses of Hebrews 11 means - faith reasons that the best predictor of what God CAN do is what He has done before!

Or put it this way, if you look at His credentials, and then if you trust His character you will find courage!

The substance of faith in God is the evidence from His past faithfulness and courage factors it forward!

October 29, 2015

^"He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up." Mark 4:2-4

When someone who is in authority says, "Listen!" you should listen. When that person commanding you to listen is Jesus, well..............!

After He called the crowd to attention He began telling the parable about the sower and the seed. Sowing is how they planted seed in those days. First they would plow the soil of their field and then walk across the field and back tossing the seeds onto the soil from their hand. I assume the more experienced a sower was the more accurate his tossing of the seed, but still there was seed that landed in unintended places. In His parable the Master made each place represent a different type of hearing heart and the seed represents the Word of God.

Some seed landed on the path. The path would be the equivalent of a sidewalk today. It was where everyone walked when they passed by that area and because it drew so much traffic the dirt was packed down hard. So hard was this packed down soil that seed landing there had no chance to put down roots before a bird swept down to snatch it. Any seed that landed on the path was wasted seed unless you were a bird.

A heart becomes hardened just as a path gets hardened, by the pressure of constant use. When a heart frequently hears the Word but never listens to it that heart becomes hardened. The Word of God never has a neutral result. When the Word is heard and obeyed it becomes soft and molded like clay. But if the Word is heard and deliberately disregarded or disobeyed that heart becomes hardened.

My mother tells me I earned my first spanking when I intentionally disobeyed her. I was three years old at the time and loved to crawl into the cabinets under the kitchen counter and play with her pots and pans. She gave me stern orders to not do so again.

One day she couldn't locate me and began to call out my name. As she continued to call with no response her level of concern increased. Just as she was about to panic she heard a clank in the area of the lower cabinet. Opening the doors she saw me sitting under there playing with her pots and pans.

Relieved but angered, she sternly rebuked me, "Bradley, didn't you hear me calling you? I have been calling your name for quite awhile now!"

According to her my response was, "I hear you - but I pay no attention!"

She got my attention! She warmed my cold, disobedient heart from the backside up!

What is the condition of your heart? Are you obeying God's Word? Are you hearing but paying no attention? Do you listen to what He says to you? Are you yielding to conviction or are you resisting it?

Once a heart grows hardened it is hard to change. It is a dangerous condition to allow.

When you hear God's Word today - will you listen?

October 28, 2015

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible." Hebrews 11:1-3

Faith is evidence of things not seen.

How can something unseen be considered evidence?

If you present evidence in a court of law it must be something that is visible and tangible but faith requires believing in the invisible.

Or does it?

What if the evidence of what is unseen is found in what has been seen? 

Look at verse three, "By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so what is seen was not made out of what was visible."

The foundation of faith is the fact of Creation. All you have to do is look out your window to see the beauty of the Fall colors or look across the room at your beautiful child and you have all the evidence you need.

All the beauty and grandeur of our planet and our universe is ample visible evidence any thinking fair-minded person should need. The beauty, order, vastness and precision of the universe demand a verdict. Did this all happen by some random chemical, geological or astronomical fluke? Or, is it the result of a Wise, Loving, All-Powerful and Everlasting God?

Look at the abundant evidence, research the various explanations and make your decision. Whatever you decide will be an expression of faith. One form of faith will be extremely limiting because it rests on a foundation of a chance occurrence. How much confidence can you have in chance? 

The Biblical form of faith, the Hebrews 11 and Genesis 1 sort of faith, has unlimited horizons because it believes the same God who spoke the universe into existence from nothing has the power to do something to meet needs today!

This is how the Heroes of faith developed their faith and courage! They believed the God who did that (Creation) could do this (lead people through the Red Sea, build an ark or kill a giant)! 

So faith arises from:

1) A conviction of God's credentials as a Creator.
2) A confidence in God's character - He never changes
3) A commitment to the cause of pleasing God
4) The courage of knowing God has called you according to His will.

So faith is "the evidence of things not seen."

Do you see it?

October 27, 2015

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for....." Hebrews 11:1

So, according to this phrase from Scripture faith is the substance that leads to hope.

Okay, so what is it that faith hopes for?

"And faith is the substance of things hoped for anyone who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He is the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11:6

Pleasing God is the primary hope of faith! You cannot please God without having faith and without living by your faith!

And quite honestly, you cannot enjoy the pleasure of knowing God unless you have faith that pleases Him! 

Hope then becomes both part and proof of the substance of faith! When you have hope you know faith is active in your life!

Abel's desire to please God led him to present an obedient sacrifice to God. Cain wanted to please God without faith. Abel found hope while Cain found hatred.

Abraham walked by faith because he hoped to please God and because He had hope God would keep His promise. We know that he DID please God and God DID deliver on His promise to Abraham. His hope inspired his faith and his faith sustained his hope!

Noah's faith was inspired by the desire to please God and the hope of saving his family from God's judgment. He pleased God, found that God REALLY is the rewarder of those who seek His will! Noah's hopes were rewarded by the substance of his faith!

Moses initially hoped God would NOT call him! But the need to please God allowed God to plant hope in Moses' heart. History records that Moses pleased God more than any other human being other than Jesus.

The primary substance of faith is the hope of pleasing God! The reward of faith is receiving hope from God!

What are you hoping for?

October 26, 2015

"How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me your decrees. With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word." Psalm 119:9-16

If I have not yet made the case for the truth and reliability of God's Word, let me try one more time.

First, let's review. The evidence we have presented to this point:

1) Fulfilled Prophecies - every prophecy concerning Jesus was fulfilled completely.

2) Historical Accuracy - if measured by the same standards as other commonly accepted ancient documents, the Bible would fare well.

3) Miraculous Preservation - for ages the Scriptures have been under attack by kings, emperors, and czars. These tyrants have tried to destroy copies if the Bible, killed the people who printed them, and arrested those who possessed them. Still, the Scriptures not only survived, but remain a number one best-seller!

4) Unity of Structure - The Bible was written over 1,500 years by 40 different writers in three different languages on three continents and yet there is a single theme - the redeeming love of God!

5) The Influence for Good - It can easily be documented that everywhere the Bible has been honored and taught, the social climate and culture have been superior to non-biblical cultures. That has been true throughout biblical history. No other sacred writing has impacted history to a greater extent than the Bible.

So, faith in the Bible is well-founded. However, there is one more convincing and powerful proof for the veracity of the Word. What is it? It is the proof of a changed life!

When someone begins to study and believe and live by Biblical truths, that life changes dramatically. People who used to be hateful, suddenly become loving. Why? The power of the Word? People who once were very selfish, suddenly begin devoting their lives to serve others. Why? The power of the Word. The Word of God has transforming power!

How can you see that power in your life?

Love the Word

Is the Word of God a controlling passion in your life? Do you love it more than life itself? Light the Psalmist, you should delight in His Word. When you do it will transform your heart and mind.

Learn the Word

The Psalmist hid God's Word in his heart. That takes time and effort and study. Read it. Memorize it. When you do it will transform your heart and mind.

Lean on the Word

What do you depend on when you have to make a tough decision? Where do go to find strength during a difficult time? When you need encouragement, where do you go to find it? Jesus leaned on the Word - even though He WAS the Word! When you lean on the Word you will find it transforms your life.

Live the Word

If you are a believer in Christ and a lover of the Word, I am guessing that you chose that way because of a significant person in your life who lived out the Word. For me it was a man named Ralph Westafer. He lived out the Word so well and with such passion that it was hard NOT to believe in the Word. I'll bet you know someone like that.

Will you commit to become someone like that?

October 24, 2015

"Now faith is the substance...."  Hebrews 11:1

What do you think of when you hear the word "substance"?

What is your favorite substance?

When I think of a substance I think of something you can see or touch. You can measure a substance by the ounce or the pound or the inch or the foot or the year or the gallon. You can't buy a pound of faith or a gallon of faith. You can't get faith by the inch or the foot. So, how can faith be a substance?

The word translated "substance" comes from the Greek "hupostasis" which means "a placing or setting under, a substructure or foundation." This word appears elsewhere in the New Testament as "confident" or "confidence" (2 Corinthians 9:4; 11:17; Hebrews 3:14).

So, faith is a "foundation" or faith is a "platform". Now that makes more sense doesn't it?

Bible Scholar and Commentator, John Ritenbaugh writes, “In the phrase "faith is the substance of things hoped for," Paul is not really defining what faith is, but rather he is showing what faith does in an operative sense: Faith undergirds what we hope for. Substance means "that which stands under." Faith is the foundation for what we hope, the foundation for our relationship with God and everything that it implies within His purpose. Faith is the very beginning of everything that really matters spiritually.

By saying that it is the "evidence" or "assurance" (the word can literally be translated "title deed," but "assurance" seems to be the best all-around word) of things hoped for, the author comes much closer to defining what faith is. In its simplest form, faith is merely belief. As our understanding becomes more complex and operative, when we begin to put faith to work, it becomes "confidence," and finally, in its best form, when it becomes fully operational, it is "trust." This trust, this full measure of faith, is alive and works within our relationship with God.”

That almost sounds like Forrest Gump doesn’t it? Remember? “Stupid is as stupid does!”

In Hebrews 11 Paul is saying, “Faith is a faith does!”

So, in practical terms here is how it works, I choose to believe what God says and I act according to that belief. My behavior demonstrates my belief even though the foundation under the behavior IS THE BELIEF!

The substance of faith for me, the believer, is my belief in God. But the substance of faith for others is my behavior which demonstrated my belief.

No wonder this entire “faith” chapter of Hebrews 11 is filled with thrilling examples faith exploits by heroes like Abraham, Noah, David and Moses!

Will you add your name to this great “Hall of Faith” list!

Will you give substance to your belief today by faith-filled living?